Substance Abuse Counselor

We Are Building Lives

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Job Summary

 

We Are Building Lives is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans experiencing homelessness, housing instability, and other barriers to independent living. Our mission is to provide veterans with the support, resources, stability, and encouragement necessary to rebuild their lives and move toward long-term independence.

We recognize that substance use and recovery challenges can significantly affect housing stability, employment, relationships, physical and mental well-being, and a veteran’s ability to successfully transition into independent living. Our approach emphasizes dignity, accountability, compassion, recovery, and individualized support.

Job Responsibilities

 

We Are Building Lives is seeking a compassionate and experienced Part-Time Substance Abuse Counselor to provide substance use counseling, recovery support, education, assessment, and referrals for veterans participating in our programs.

The Substance Abuse Counselor will work collaboratively with organizational leadership, case management staff, mental health professionals, community treatment providers, and other partners to help veterans address substance use concerns and develop practical strategies for maintaining recovery and achieving greater stability.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with individuals affected by substance use disorders and will demonstrate an understanding of trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented services, relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, and the complex challenges that may affect veterans experiencing or transitioning out of homelessness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide individual substance use counseling and recovery support to veterans participating in We Are Building Lives programs.
• Conduct appropriate screenings and assessments to identify substance use concerns, recovery needs, strengths, risks, and barriers to stability.
• Develop individualized recovery goals and service recommendations in collaboration with participants and other members of the service team.
• Provide education regarding substance use disorders, recovery, relapse prevention, coping strategies, healthy decision-making, and available treatment resources.
• Facilitate substance use education, recovery support, or group counseling sessions when appropriate and within professional scope.
• Utilize evidence-informed approaches such as motivational interviewing, person-centered counseling, relapse-prevention strategies, and trauma-informed care.
• Assist participants in identifying triggers, developing healthy coping strategies, strengthening support systems, and establishing realistic recovery goals.
• Recognize signs of relapse, crisis, or increased risk and respond according to organizational policy, professional standards, and applicable legal requirements.
• Coordinate referrals to detoxification programs, residential treatment, outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, mental health services, peer recovery services, and other community resources when appropriate.
• Collaborate with case managers, organizational leadership, mental health professionals, healthcare providers, and community partners to support continuity of care.
• Support veterans transitioning from treatment programs back into housing, employment, community life, and independent living.
• Maintain accurate, timely, confidential, and professional documentation of services provided.
• Participate in case conferences and staff meetings as appropriate.
• Maintain participant confidentiality and comply with applicable federal and state privacy requirements, professional standards, and organizational policies.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and ethical standards when working with program participants.
• Assist We Are Building Lives in strengthening partnerships with substance use treatment providers and recovery resources throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the position and the mission of We Are Building Lives.

Qualifications

 

• Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, behavioral health, addiction studies, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Appropriate Tennessee credential, certification, or licensure related to alcohol and drug abuse counseling or behavioral health services strongly preferred.
• Experience providing substance use counseling, addiction services, recovery support, behavioral health services, or related services.
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, recovery principles, relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care.
• Experience working with veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, or other vulnerable populations strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of community-based substance use treatment and recovery resources.
• Ability to recognize behavioral health emergencies and appropriately follow established crisis-response procedures.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to establish rapport while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary service team.
• Commitment to treating every veteran with dignity, respect, compassion, and professionalism.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Veteran services
• Homelessness or transitional housing programs
• Substance use disorder treatment
• Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
• Trauma-informed care
• Residential or community-based behavioral health services
• Crisis intervention
• Recovery-oriented systems of care

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Send a Cover Letter and Resume to Jeff@wearebuildinglives.org

Details

• Date Posted: August 11, 2026
• Type: Part-Time
• Job Function: Human Resources
• Service Area: Social / Human Services
• Start Date: 08/17/2026
• Salary Range: Negotiable
• Working Hours: Flexible